ISEM will provide context assessment of the surface mineralogy in the vicinity of the Rosalind Franklin rover for selection of potential astrobiological targets. The Principal Investigator is Oleg Korablev from the Russian Space Research Institute (IKI).[needs update]
The Infrared Spectrometer for ExoMars (ISEM) is being developed by the Russian Space Research Institute (IKI).[4][5] It will be the first instance of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) observations done from the Mars surface.[2] The instrument will be installed on the Rosalind Franklin rover's mast to measure reflected solar radiation in the near infrared range for context assessment of the surface mineralogy in the vicinity of Rosalind Franklin for selection of potential astrobiological targets.[2][6] As the number of samples obtained with the drill will be limited, the selection of high-value sites for drilling will be crucial. Working with PanCam (a high-resolution panoramic camera), ISEM will aid in the selection of potential targets, especially water-bearing minerals, for close-up investigations and drilling sites.[2]
Geological investigation and study a composition of Martian soils in the uppermost few millimeters of the surface.
Characterisation of the composition of surface materials, discriminating between various classes of silicates, oxides, hydrated minerals and carbonates.
Identification and mapping of the distribution of aqueous alteration products on Mars.
Real-time assessment of surface composition in selected areas, in support of identifying and selection of the most promising drilling sites.
Studies of variations of the atmospheric dust properties and of the atmospheric gaseous composition.
The instrument has been designed to specifically detect carbonates, oxalates, borates, nitrates, NH4-bearing minerals, that are good indicators of past habitable conditions such as aqueous minerals. It is also designed to detect organic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and those containing aliphatic C-H molecules.[2] In addition, ISEM can also detect seasonal frost, if present at the landing site, and it can be used to analyse the bore hole excavated by the ExoMars drill, if the rover backs away some distance.[2]
^ abcdefghiInfrared Spectrometer for ExoMars: A Mast-Mounted Instrument for the Rover. (PDF). Oleg I. Korablev, Yurii Dobrolensky, Nadezhda Evdokimova, Anna A. Fedorova, Ruslan O. Kuzmin, Sergei N. Mantsevich, Edward A. Cloutis, John Carter, Francois Poulet, Jessica Flahaut, Andrew Griffiths, Matthew Gunn, Nicole Schmitz, Javier Martin-Torres, Maria-Paz Zorzano, Daniil S. Rodionov, Jorge L. Vago, Alexander V. Stepanov, Andrei Yu. Titov, Nikita A. Vyazovetsky, Alexander Yu. Trokhimovskiy, Alexander G. Sapgir, Yurii K. Kalinnikov, Yurii S. Ivanov, Alexei A. Shapkin, and Andrei Yu. Ivanov. Astrobiology, Volume 17, Number 6 and 7, 2017. doi:10.1089/ast.2016.1543